Karolinska Institutet was founded in 1810 and therefore celebrates it 200^th anniversary in 2010.  It is the leading medical university in Sweden and teaches all the key medical and para-medical subjects.  It is a powerhouse of biomedical research and graduates over 300 Ph.D’s every year.  It performs well in international rankings, the highest in Sweden and in 2006 the Times Higher ranked it as number 4 in the world in biomedical research after Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge.  KI awards the Nobel Prize in biomedicine.

KI has been very successful in attracting corporate investment in its research and in exploiting its intellectual property.  Until Brakeley’s involvement began in 2004 it had been weak in the area of philanthropic fundraising, although some professors had been successful in attracting gifts to support their own research.

Brakeley first carried out a feasibility study and recommended a campaign for 1 billion Swedish crowns (c. €110 million).  A range of other services were provided in the following years, including two periods of interim management, prospect research, case writing and strategic advice.

The Campaign was launched in February 2008 with c. msek 600 million (€66m) already raised with a largest gift of msek 350 (€38.5m).  A Swedish Campaign Committee has met regularly throughout the Campaign.  In addition a US Friends of KI has been established and is helping to raise funds in North America.  The alumni programme has also been considerably developed during the consultancy period and alumni at large will be asked to give in 2009.  KI would like to wrap up its campaign in its 200^th anniversary year 2010.